A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists. The word also describes the performance that they give, which is usually a series of acts that are choreographed to music and introduced by a "ringmaster".A traditional circus performance is normally held in a ring 13m , (42ft) in diameter this dimension was adopted by Philip Astley to enable a horse rider to stand upright on a cantering horse to perform a series of acrobatic manoeuvres and to more easily retain their balance. Most modern circuses have a system of tiered seating around the ring for the public and since the late 19th early 20th century the performance has taken place under canvas and more recently plastic tents commonly called "The Big Top" .

Noun

circus (genitive circī); m, second declension

1. A circular line or orbit; circle, ring.
2. A racecourse or space where games are held, especially one that is round.
3. The spectators in a circus; a circus.

Inflection Number Singular Plural nominative circus circī genitive circī circōrum dative circō circīs accusative circum circōs ablative circō circīs vocative circe circī